Okay, so I now have the money to bulldog the Ranger, I'm running a D28 up front, and so far I've found mixed opinion on what I'm gonna ask.

My ultimate goal is a D60 with leaf s[rings up front, but right now, all I have to work with is the D28.

I want to run the 33" I have on the back all around (33 12.50 15 Wild Country).

I just did both wheel bearings, shes perfect upfront now, I'm going with manual hubs here soon, not until i actually get a driveshaft up front though.

The only wheeling I do is some thick mud, sugar sand, and water, welcome to Florida, right? lol

The truck doesn't get stuck in 2 as is now, so I figure if I'm on top of the front end, the 33" should work for now, since 4lo is just gonna make it a little easier to get through.

I know Ford spec is 31" but I've seen a few guys running larger than that with a D28.

I'm not bothering swapping a D35 because I will be going completely solid soon enough.

 

i think you'll be fine if you aren't mashing on the gas. your a v8 swap on a d28 with larger and heavier tires, something can and more than likely will break if your hard on it, or if its worn out already. i'd say just be careful right now and keep saving, you don't really need a d60 for 33's a d44 can handle 35's easy.

 

sounds like your gunna have one helluva truck! glad to see more FL boys

 

Oh, well I plan on going big when I got with 1 ton's.

Like at least 39". :-P

I want this thing to be nasty one day, I mean Florida lift laws are never enforced, so I might as well take advantage.

Everything upfront, except the auto hubs is new, and I'll be replacing those soon.

I just wanted someone to reassure me that I wasn't going to be eating wheel bearings, I can't be too hard on her because of the 7.5". :-P

Thanks for the help. :-)

And yeah, my dad works down in Melbourne, I'm like half an hour away, if I need some help or someone to wheel with I think I know who to go to.

But I'm not a Florida boy, I'm a North Carolina boy, but I've been here long enough to claim it. lol

 

quite the ambitious plan here.

 

i wouldn't worry about 33's if you take it easy

i know a few guys locally running 32's and they seem to do fine

i'm running 30's with no issues and i throttle mine up and down gravel roads and logging trails
its held up so far

 

Meh, it's not that crazy, anything can be done wit hthe right amount of money.

I have the ability, I just gotta get the dough.

This will be the nastiest first gen in my area, perhaps the state, I'll make that my goal.

It won't be soon, but it will happen.

 

I run 33 wild country rtvs on my 85 b2 with a 2.8 5 speed d28 7.5 with 4.10s and an l/s out back. I've broke 3 u joints up front, one twisted the ears off the middle shaft. I've also taken gears off the ring of a 3.73 l/s 7.5 in the same rig...

So it works, but you will break it if you get it in a bind or are just throttle happy. I replaced all my ball joints about 4k miles ago and its still solid. I do however have to snug up the wheel bearings every six months or so. Just keep and eye on it. I like to shake down my trucks every 2 months or so. Just to stay on top of them.

 

Alright, I'm hoping I can find another set of these Wild Country, I like the price, I like the performance, unfortunately when I try to find them I only come across all terrains.

I stay on top of the drive train, my girlfriend says I'm obsessed.

BB2, what do you think of an L/S in an off road application? I've heard mixed things, I've never messed with anything with a L/S off road, I've been spoiled with lockers. (lincoln, and detroit, lincoln being my favorite) :-P

 

Its better than nothing. Most of the time it works when you dont need it to, and doesn't work when you do need it. But, its basically free if you get an l/s axle, so you can't complain too much. My buddies 94 ranger stx had an 8.8 l/s and it was amazing, both tires spun 90% of the time and that truck went everywhere, i suppose the 37 inch m16s had something to do with that tho lol

 

lol Yeah the rearend that was trashed when I got the truck was L/S, the diff was shot though, so now I'm running open.

I don't get stuck most of the time, but I feel like if I had an L/S at least I wouldnt have to give it so much hell.

The reason I'm considering an L/S is because I found an L/S setup cheap locally.

But since I do have some welding skills, I was even considering welding it. I did my buddies S10 and that thing goes everywhere.

I've driven welded rearend vehicals in the past, cars and trucks and it isn't so bad, I love some lincoln locking action.